TIFF 2024 Review - I The Executioner (베테랑 2024)

If you know me, you know that South Korean action thrillers are my bread and butter. It’s a genre of cinema I instinctively seek out and consume. So, it’s no surprise that while scouring the TIFF programme for films to watch, I The Executioner stood out like a massive beacon of light, screaming for my attention. It was quickly added to my TIFF watchlist. I The Executioner is a sequel to the 2015 film Veteran, which is the fifth-highest-grossing film in South Korea. However, watching Veteran is not essential to enjoythis film. This is fortunate, as I have never seen Veteran, if it’s as great as that , it’ll soon be on my watchlist.

Following Detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) and his major crimes team as they do their best to put an end to crime, their next case involves a murder that was recreated to match a crime the victim either got away with or received a light sentence for. Additionally, the way the crimes are orchestrated suggests this may be the work of a serial killer. While investigating, Seo Do-cheol crosses paths with rookie officer Park Sun-woo (Jung Hae-in). The rookie joins the major crimes team to help hunt down the killer.

This has a tone and aesthetic similar to The Roundup films. The way it blends intensity and humor is typical of the genre and made me feel right at home. I knew I was in for a good time when the hard-hitting action exploded on screen. The fights have a weight and impact that make you curl up in your chair. Every punch, kick, and body crashing into glass feels visceral, drawing you into each action scene. One standout moment is a fight in the rain, where the mix of audio and stunning cinematography allows the action to truly flourish.

Hwang Jung-min, as Seo Do-cheol, is utterly charismatic, bringing the perfect blend of a heroic yet clumsy veteran cop. He is impeccable as the lead, but Jung Hae-in as Park Sun-woo is equally captivating. What starts as a rookie cop with impressive skills reveals a layer of darkness conveyed subtly through a smile or a tilt of the head.

Once we’re introduced to the core story of the killer recreating crimes, the film addresses a subject that, especially in this genre, is all too common. While I love The Roundup films, a valid critique of them is how they often make light of police brutality. Similarly, films like Raging Fire deal with the idea of going against protocol as the right thing to do in the name of justice. I The Executioner tackles these issues and questions whether excessive force is necessary. Can justice be served while staying within the boundaries of the law?

While it’s commendable that the film raises awareness of these issues, I feel it doesn’t fully explore or offer solutions to them. I The Executioner feels like an appetizer for a more substantial discussion that I hope comes later.

Not delving deeply into those issues isn’t a deal breaker for me, as simply addressing them is a step in the right direction. Plus, it helps that the film surrounding its core idea is an absolute blast and kept me enthralled from beginning to end.